1602

I can’t remember the last time I looked forward to a new comic as much as I’ve been looking forward to 1602. I’ve been avoiding Forbidden Planet for years, too frightened of maxing out my credit cards to dare step foot in there, but today I braved it in order to get my hands on Volume 1 Issue 1 of Neil Gaiman’s first comic for ages.

It wasn’t an expensive experience, mainly because I averted my eyes from all other shelves and frogmarched myself to the counter with only the one item in my grasp. Not that I wasn’t tempted. I was very tempted. But I guess years of deprivation have made it slightly easier.

Anyway, I spent the rest of the afternoon with Rob, an old pal of mine that I’ve not seen for years. He moved over to New Zealand and is only here for a few days for work. He’s a great bassist who’s worked with some Big Names, and he taught me all I know about bass playing. It was lovely to see him after all this time. You know how it is with some people – it doesn’t matter how long it’s been since we last sat and had a pint, it was as if no time had passed at all. A lovely afternoon.

It was all slightly marred when I got to Paddington though, as I dropped my beautiful sunnies on the platform. Now, it wasn’t a bad drop as drops go. They landed on smooth black tarmac, rather than, say, gravel, but they still scratched. One lens has several short but noticeable scrapes. I’m very disappointed. I know that sunnies aren’t supposed to be dropped on the floor, but they weren’t dropped hard, or on a particularly nasty surface, and it’s a bit crap that the plastic they are made from is so soft that they should scratch so easily.

I wonder if somewhere there’s some sort of solution one can use to fill in the scratch so that maybe it is a little less noticeable. Anyone got any ideas?

Was definitely in a bit of a huff by the time I got home and had almost forgotten the slim volume in my bag. But, after dinner and a good whine to Kate, I remembered, fished it out and was rewarded for my trials and tribulations by a fantastic read.

The idea central to 1602 is that the Marvel universe developed 400 years earlier than it should have (and yes, you could have worked that one out from the title, I know). It’s kinda fun to read through and wonder which character is going to pop up next. As well as Doctor Stephen Strange and Sir Nicholas Fury, you also have the wonderfully re-spelt Peter Parquagh.

Now if that’s not enough to make you smile, nothing is.

I’m not hugely knowledgeable about comics, having spent much of my adult life trying not to spend money on them, and this is the first time I’ve been in on a comic from Vol. 1 Iss. 1, but I’m so badly hooked. Can’t wait to see how Gaiman develops the story.

Of course, it helps that it’s so beautifully illustrated by Andy Kubert, but I must admit that the overuse of bold does get on my wick a teensy bit. Not enough to ruin the read, but I don’t really need to have stresses indicated to me by overenthusiastic bolding. I think I’m smart enough to figure out which words in sentences such as ‘The fens are flooded’ are important. But that’s a minor gripe. On the whole, it’s a great read, and leaves me desperately wanting more.

What do you mean I’ve got to wait til next month?!